100% Ethical

byFrancaon17 November 2011

This is my contribution to Style Eyes ethical outfit competition. As I mentioned the other week, 99.9% of my outfits have at least one ethical (thrifted, fair trade, pre-used or handmade) element in them, so I could have submitted just about any outfit. But I wanted to do something special.

Before I was a blogger, back when I was really active on flickr, I would occasionally post to a group called 100% thrifted. This was back in the days when I would go to the charity shops all the time, like two or three times a week.

I still didn’t manage too many 100% thrifted outfits, and that’s because I always struggled with the shoes. Shoes are difficult to find! I am pretty picky with shoes, I don’t do heels, I don’t like flimsy soles, and I have narrow feet and shoes that are donated are often in pretty bad condition. I did have six pairs of shoes from the charity shops at one point, but I wore one (brown comfy clarks ones) all the time until the sole was walked off, and two other pairs (pink kitten heels and cord trainers with a bow) were actually a little bit too big, so back to the shop they went. This pair of shoes is the oldest of the three second hand pairs I have left. I bought them when I was in the first year year of my undergrad course, 12 years ago. Wowee, a long time ago!

I also really wanted to wear a maxi skirt. I don’t know why, I’ve had a little craving for them recently. I only own two of them (plus one that I’m too big to bit in just now). This one is actually not as maxi as I remember it to be from last time I wore it, which was a long time ago! But I do love the draping on it, and it’s an unusual colour for me. This whole outfit has quite a different colour scheme from usual, much softer and more autumnal, though there’s still a few of the usual bright things!

top under – it’s originally American Apparel (I was attracted to the sweatshop free thing before I knew about the rampant sexism and freakish attempts to control staff’s looks, I would never buy from there now!) in a sort of lilac colour, then I dyed it red

vintage bag – charity shop

vintage shoes – from a vintage shop, I bought them when I was 18!

zip brooch – found in the street

bangles – two are from the charity shops, the narrowest one was a gift

Wish me luck with the competition!

Comments on this entry are closed.

Jessica17 November 2011, 9:18 am

This is a wonderful outfit, I love the combination of so many reds from burgundy to bright, and they work perfectly against the autumnal background. That skirt is really great, too! Good luck with the competition, you certainly seem to me to be one of the most ethical style bloggers out there!

Love your ethical outfit! The layers/colors/textures are great. And Yay for 100% Thrifted group! In general, my flickr submission/participation has fallen quite a bit too but I aim for almost all of my w_r photos to be 100% Thrifted also. The idea of all secondhand/ethical wardrobe was very inspiring to me and I’m still a fan. I started out with the same problem of shoes being hard to find in the thrifts but 4 years later I’ve got a big collection. Good luck in the contest!madam0wl recently posted..Hey Mon

I love the outfit and the coloured backdrop in the photograph shows it off perfectly.

I always struggle with shoes. I have never managed to find a second hand pair, although a friend has given me a pair but I am finding more and more ethical shoes that I like recently. Your shoes look great!

LOVE it, Franca – you can rock colour like no other! That skirt is great – and I totally know what you mean, I’ve been snapping up midi and maxi skirts at Goodwill whenever I can find a good one lately. I think it’s the prospect of another long cold winter here; all I want to do is swaddle myself in wool (she typed, in bed, under a wool duvet topped with a wool blanket!)

You found the zip brooch in the street? Yowza – score!!!! I really enjoyed reading this post and I have problems with thrifted shoes – only because I have UK size 8 feet and most donated shoes look like canoes!!!! My one excuse to buy new – but even then I will NEVER pay full price for shoes. I agree with your AA comments – I have three of their pieces but I will never buy from them again. xoxoxoDesiree recently posted..Now That’s What I Call a Frockin’ Surprise!

Hello! My name is Franca. This blog is a record of the good things in everyday life, my two boys and our weekend activities in and around Edinburgh and elsewhere; and my sewing, knitting and baking adventures. Also sometimes personal style photos, interiors, food, arts and design inspiration and anything I happen to be interested in at the time.